YBSA Monthly Report February, 2016

YBSA Monthly Report

February, 2016

Support with Concerns for Water Enhancement Program: The Yakima Basin Storage Alliance (YBSA) continues to support the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Program but are doubtful that the storage facilities actively being pursued will ever be built and meet the goal of 500,000 acre/feet of water.

The first storage facility being proposed in the 30 year plan is to pump water an additional 80 feet (200,000 acre/feet) of water from the original Lake Kachess. A study contracted by the Department of Ecology and the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife to determine the impact on Kachess Property values has been completed. With this study and others a broader Environmental Impact Statement will be released this fall or in 2017. See story in the Thursday, February 25^th edition of the Northern Kittitas Country Tribune.

Each storage project in the Integrated Plan is being evaluated separately and implementation will depend on the cost of the project and the availability and authorized use of the newly stored water. With mitigation and location of the pumping/conveyance sites in doubt, when will the cost be calculated and when how will it be financed? If the project is to be evaluated by the cost of construction, operating costs, mitigation, and who will be authorized to use the water; when will the Kachess project start?

The same evaluations of Wymer and Bumping Storage projects need to be developed to determine if they can be built.

Without all the storage projects completed, the Yakima Basin will continue to be short of the water needed. With possible climate change, the storage projects will not meet our goals. The economy of the Yakima Basin depends on the availability of water for agriculture, fish, and municipal and industrial growth.

Snow-Precipitation Update: As of Sunday, February 28^th the snow-water equivalent in the upper Yakima Basin is at 97% and the lower Yakima Basin is at 95%. Reservoir storage is above average for this time of year. Additional snowpack may be needed due to the warmer temperatures.

The 1 plus million acre/feet of water stored in the reservoirs in the Yakima Basin only provide approximately 1/3 of the water needed.

Go to www.ybsa.org for additional information.